Solving the Sine Die Puzzle

10 days to Christmas, and Congress will vote on....(?)

The news just doesn't want to stop. Biden wins again. Barr is out. Congress seems in no hurry. Here's your Capitol Hill update for Tuesday morning, December 15.

WILL THERE BE A COVID DEAL? We've been asking this question for a long time. If you listened to a Monday afternoon news conference with a bipartisan House-Senate group, it sounded like they had struck a fantastic deal on Coronavirus relief legislation, which might soon speed its way through the Congress. But like their original $908 billion COVID-19 relief bill announcement from a few weeks ago, it's not clear this agreement will be voted on by either the House or Senate. The group did something interesting in their bid to spur action, as they split the package into two bills. One has $748 billion in aid. The other contains $160 billion in relief for state and local governments (which is hotly opposed by Republicans), along with limits on COVID liability lawsuits (which is hotly opposed by Democrats). Maybe you could have the spoonful of sugar before Christmas, but not the medicine?

• WILL THERE BE ANY COVID VOTE? It's been seven months since the House approved a Coronavirus relief bill, and since then, it's been a political hot potato, with both parties blaming the other for inaction. "So we should act," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared on the Senate floor as he opened Monday's session. But McConnell gave no hints about exactly what should receive a vote. Speaker Pelosi's office indicated Monday night there was still no deal on a virus aid plan after talks with the Treasury Secretary. Bottom line: I can see lots of reasons Congress will approve some aid in the next nine days. And I can see lots of ways it could run aground. LEGISLATIVE MAGIC 8-BALL ANSWER: Reply hazy. Try again.

WAITING FOR THE OMNIBUS. Just before Christmas, the House Rules Committee often becomes the main legislative forum in the U.S. House, as leaders try to swiftly press forward with a pre-holiday rush on a variety of bills. The message being sent publicly on Monday in the halls of Congress was one of optimism - that final language should be out Tuesday on a massive year-end funding bill. But at this time of the year, my mantra is simple: SHOW ME THE LEGISLATIVE TEXT. And on Monday, the website of the House Rules Committee offered no solace on either the Omnibus or Coronavirus relief. "There is no active legislation at this time. There are no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time. There are no upcoming amendment deadlines at this time,” the website stated. We'll see if that changes today. Once the pieces of the puzzle start falling together - or breaking apart - things can happen fast in the House.

• ARE WE SMELLING JET FUMES? "Jet fumes" is the Capitol Hill shorthand used when it looks like lawmakers are ready to finish their work, head for the airport, and get out of town fast. If negotiators can file the language of the Omnibus on Tuesday, then the House could likely vote on that deal by Thursday, forcing the Senate to work through the weekend to overcome a possible filibuster. Does COVID-19 relief get attached to that? Does it move separately? Does it move at all? Does it all get thrown overboard? It might still be too early for House and Senate office schedulers to make their boss a plane reservation back home.

MICHIGAN LAWMAKER LEAVES GOP. For the second time this Congress, a Republican Congressman from Michigan is giving up on the GOP, and moving to become an Independent. Rep. Paul Mitchell joins Rep. Justin Amash in leaving the GOP because of President Trump. Mitchell said Monday that he's fed up with the President's never-ending election challenges. "The process, the election is over. It's over today," Mitchell said on CNN. In a letter to top Republicans, Mitchell said the President - and those House members who signed on to a failed lawsuit from Texas - were engaged in 'raw political considerations, not constitutional or voting integrity concerns.' We should note that Mitchell is leaving Congress in less than three weeks, as is Amash.

• SOME REPUBLICANS ACCEPT BIDEN VICTORY. And some do not. The tortured answers given in the hallways by GOP Senators to the simple question of, "Who won the election?" or, "Is Joe Biden President-Elect?" have really been something to behold. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) said Monday, "That’s the gotcha question of the day." Some Republicans finally gave up on that dance after the Electoral College vote on Monday. "I, like many Hoosiers, am disappointed by the results," said Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), but he said Joe Biden is the President-Elect. "Joe Biden is now President-Elect," said Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH). Sen. John Thune (R-SD) - the second ranking GOP Senator - also used those teeth-chattering words "President-Elect" to reporters. Will the Senate Majority Leader be next? Stay tuned.

HISTORY NOTE - What was I reporting on 15 years ago today? Former Sen. William Proxmire (D-WI), who lampooned federal spending with his 'Golden Fleece' award, died at age 90. President George W. Bush asked Congress for another $1.5 billion to help rebuild levees around New Orleans damaged by Hurricane Katrina. And Congress was (of course) trying to finish work for the year, with the GOP Congress struggling to get votes to renew expiring provision of the anti-terrorist Patriot Act.

TUESDAY LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

House meets at 3 pm.

Senate meets at 10 am.

President Trump has no public events on his schedule.

SENATE HEARING OF NOTE: The Commerce Committee holds a hearing this morning on how the Coronavirus outbreak has impacted the 'live event entertainment industry.' Witnesses include independent music venue owners and concert promoters from Kansas, Los Angeles, and Tennessee.

“Conference reports may be brought up at any time. Any further program will be announced later.”